Local authorities use terms including childhood (Niñez), adolescence (Adolescencia), minors (menores de edad) and older age (tercera edad). The Ministry of Social Affairs and Gender Equality (Ministerio de Asuntos Sociales e Igualdad de Género, MINASIG) coordinates social assistance, child protection, and programs for people with disabilities and older people. Further responsibilities lie with the Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Labour, INSESO, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office (Fiscalía), the Ministry of the Interior and local authorities. There is no single service for all stages of life; access therefore depends heavily on the matter, insurance status, age and responsible institution. The Unified Social Registry (Registro Único Social) is intended to consolidate household social data. An update based on the 2024 household survey was planned. At birth, one parent must register the child with the Civil Registry (Registro Civil), at the mayor's office or at a provincial birth-registration centre. Registration is legally required, is expected within 30 days and is free of charge; however, a fee is charged for the birth certificate, and late registration may trigger a fine. Processing takes approximately one week to one month and is mostly paper-based. The birth certificate is needed, among other things, for an identity card, school attendance, inheritances and social assistance. To register a death, the responsible office requires a medical death certificate, an identity document, and information about the date of death and age. The death certificate may be required for inheritance matters, pensions and survivors' benefits. For children under five, the available comparative data report that they account for 14 percent of the population, with 49,964 births per year and a mortality rate of 77 per 1,000 live births. Birth registration stood at 54 percent in 2011. The available data give a rate of 176 births per 1,000 adolescents for 2010 and state that in 2011, 30 percent of women aged 20 to 24 had been married or living in a partnership before their 18th birthday. Current comparable data on child labour, violent discipline and development status are limited. The 2023 decree protects minors from violence, intimidation, sexual abuse and exploitation. As a rule, minors may not be outside the home or in public places after 22 p.m. without a parent or guardian, unless there is a justified reason. Unsupervised cohabitation of minors and their exploitation in bars, shops, street vending or car washes are prohibited. MINASIG, the interior administration, education, justice, security bodies, the Public Prosecutor's Office and youth authorities are involved in protection and enforcement. Formal staffing for case intake, referral and psychosocial support is still being expanded; a nationwide central emergency line or one-stop service had not been publicly demonstrated. Violence or exploitation should therefore be reported to the responsible authorities and MINASIG. Adolescents usually enter the next stage of life through school, vocational training and work. Responsibilities overlap between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. U-Report offers free, anonymous messaging and participation opportunities for young people; UNICEF reached approximately 73,000 people through this and connected channels and worked with 20 young people on digital stories in 2023. Education spending was 0.9 percent of gross domestic product in 2022. Access has expanded but remains behind countries with similar income levels. The PNEF and the proposed INFEGE were submitted for approval on September 4, 2026; their establishment, access requirements, costs and processing times had not yet been confirmed. Automatic placement into employment is not documented. The transition into employment is governed by General Labour Law No. 4/2021, as amended by Law No. 6/2026. Social insurance is administered by the social security institution (INSESO). An insured person may receive a maternity benefit if they submit a medical certificate and prove at least twelve months of contributions. The benefit lasts twelve weeks, six before and six after the expected birth date, and amounts to 75 percent of reference earnings. With fewer than twelve months of contributions, a one-time payment equal to two monthly earnings is provided instead. A general, non-contributory parental benefit is not documented. The minimum marriage age is 18 for both sexes; registration and the marriage certificate are subject to fees, and no fixed registration deadline is specified. Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 62.2 years in 2019, with a further 17.6 years expected from age 60. Under the standard rules in force on July 1, 2022, the contribution-based retirement age is 60 for women and men; employment must end. At least 120 months of contributions are required, including 60 months within the last ten years. Coverage includes, among others, public-sector employees, civil servants and military personnel. Self-employed people may insure themselves voluntarily if they meet the applicable requirements. The pension rules should be reviewed again after the 2026 reform because new implementing rules were not yet fully public. Support for care needs is largely fragmented. MINASIG coordinates protection, assistance, disability programs and facilities for accommodating and caring for older people. INSESO pays a constant-care allowance only in connection with a contribution-based invalidity or permanent incapacity pension. Under the available rules, the general route to an invalidity benefit usually requires a complete loss of work capacity and 60 months of contributions. A general care benefit, a nationwide uniform care assessment and public tariffs and processing deadlines are not documented. Crises can occur at several stages of life. If a pension recipient or an insured person with at least 60 months of contributions dies, a survivor's pension may be considered. For orphans, the age limits are under 14 or under 18 when attending school; there is no age limit in the case of a disability. A funeral grant is also provided for the death of an insured person or an old-age or invalidity pensioner. Social Protection Law No. 5/2026 contains 25 articles, but as of September 7, 2026, the catalogue of benefits, scope, applications, costs and processing times had not yet been conclusively clarified publicly.
Life stages in Equatorial Guinea
Childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age bring different rights and forms of assistance in Equatorial Guinea. Responsibilities are divided among authorities, schools, INSESO and local bodies. Birth, work, retirement and crises may require proof, benefits or protection depending on the case.
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